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 Columbia Fireflies

Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 26 vs Charleston

June 26, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release


The Columbia Fireflies close out their series with the Charleston RiverDogs today at 5:05 pm at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark. RHP Ben Kudrna (0-3, 3.27 ERA) gets the rock for the Fireflies and Charleston counters with RHP Johnny Cuevas (2-0, 3.00 ERA).

Independence Day is right around the corner! Have a blast at Segra Park the whole weekend with two of the largest fireworks displays in the history of Segra Park being blasted off! We'll start the weekend with Fireworks with the Phil, presented by Prisma Health July 2 and we'll keep the party going as the Fireflies take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans July 4. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.

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FIREFLIES OVERRUN RIVERDOGS 7-3: The Fireflies jumped ahead of the RiverDogs in the first inning, refusing to surrender their lead for the entire contest - which resulted in Columbia winning their second-consecutive game. Luinder Avila (W, 4-6) had an impressive outing - pitching six total innings. He allowed three hits, two runs, and recorded four strikeouts. Avila threw 88 total pitches on Saturday night. He would go on to be replaced by lefty Marlin Willis, who recorded two outs, allowing one run. Delvin Capellan (S, 1) pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit. The game started quickly for the Fireflies. After River Town walked to first base, outfielder David Hollie hit a home run deep to right field. Town would go on to walk three times against the RiverDogs - scoring two runs. Hollie, as well, would score two runs.

NEW YEAR, NEW ME: The second half of the season started yesterday, which reset each team's record to 0-0. The Fireflies finished the first half (66 games) 28 games back of Myrtle Beach, who had the best record in Minor League Baseball. After starting the second-half 2-0, the Fireflies are in sole possession of first place and possess a magic number of 64 to clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history.

TRIPLE CROWN THREAT: One Fireflies player has been running away with the top batting stats of the season. After smacking a lead-off homer and driving in two RBI, River Town has the highest batting average (.242), homerun total (9) and RBI tally (27) on the Fireflies. The closest competitor in each category would be Darryl Collins (.230) in average and Carter Jensen in homers (eight) and RBI (24).

SOMEBODY SAVE ME: Friday night, Shane Connolly earned the first save of his professional career. It was bigger than just that though. He is the first Fireflies player other than Luis Barroso to earn a save in 2022. The stretch continued last night as the Fireflies earned saves on consecutive nights for the first time this season. Last night, it was Delvin Capellan who closed out the final seven outs to retire Charleston without a threat.

QUALITY AVILA: The Fireflies have had a starting pitcher spin six innings just twice this season, and both times it has been Luinder Avila. In his first six inning start, Avila gave up four runs, thus not earning a quality start, but last night, the righty went six innings, allowing three hits and two runs (only one of which was earned). It was the Fireflies first quality start of the season. Columbia is 1-1 when a pitcher goes six-plus innings this season.

SINGING THE BLUES: The Fireflies have struggled in their navy jerseys this season, owning a 4-19 record when they don the blues through the first 65 games of the 2022 campaign.

WILY WILLIS: In his 37th appearance in the neon and navy, Marlin Willis earned his first win. He is now 1-2 in his career with the Fireflies across 60.2 innings of work. In his second season in the Soda City, the southpaw has a 4.07 ERA in 14 appearances, fanning 33 in 24.1 innings and holding opponents to a .189 average. Columbia's reliever has been on a tear since the end of April though. After recording an 8.53 ERA in the first month of the season, Willis continues to perform better as time passes. He went 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six games spanning 12.1 innings in May and is 1-0 in his first four games of June with a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings.


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Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2022


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